Gene Simmons Praises Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Speeding Bullet’ Guitar Playing Skills (Exclusive)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- ET’s Kevin Frazier spoke with Gene Simmons about his most cherished memories with Eddie Van Halen, who died at 65 on Tuesday following a long battle with cancer. Simmons opens up about his role in helping Van Halen get discovered, and how he talked Eddie out of leaving his own band to join KISS. Simmons compares Van Halen’s ‘speeding bullet’ guitar playing to fellow rock legend Jimi Hendrix.
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I have never in my life heard Gene Simmons put his ego in the back seat and, speak so sincerely and highly of anybody until now.
you are so right R ABE great comment
Gene is genuinely hurt by this.
I was thinking that.
He was also like this about Eric Carr aka Fox
omg please gene love van halen that band was from his heart he work with van halen for along time gene is a good person
Gene when he cuts the shit, is very real. He is so right about Eddie. R.I.P. Mr. Van Halen.
Chaim has a very thick shell but there's a side to this old bastard that's pretty real. He's just tough as hard snot most of the time and people judge him for that.
It kind of makes you wonder if Gene's "shit" is mostly an act he puts on, or "thinks" he has to put on, as part of the KISS marketing... that's just a hunch on my part
Eddie being himself and not trying to impress anybody ended up impressing everyone. . . Rest In Peace Eddie.
Well said
COTD.
You said this so perfectly... Because Eddie never strives for the limelight... He just wanted to play... And play he did! What a true guitar God!
He was very down to earth, very Dutch, that way.
Well said.
"I didnt discover Superman. He was already there". One of the more humble things Ive heard from Gene in decades. RIP Eddie. True Legend.
He says a lot of humble things, except those don’t grab headlines.
Fanboys love to hate him because he doesn't sugarcoat things even if he knows it will hurt or offend people, he probably thinks truth hurts so he doesn't mind if people bash him.
that's sweet ... you high now ?
Wow. Gene in such a different mood and zone here, so refreshingly honest and humble
That's what hes like away from the camera..
He rarely gets "out of character." This is one of those moments.
He's always been honest. Humble, not often.
@marquis de queensbury
Dumb statement. KISS toured with many talented bands.
@Bif Webster
Really? Because Jesus said the opposite.
I remember that Gene Simmons contributed financially to get Van Halen's first album out. It was written in small letters, almost hidden on the inside sleeve footnotes.. Thanks Mr Simmons!
He basically got them going, helped them cut their first demos which were sent to Warner Brothers who picked them up after hearing them.
You have to love Warner Brothers music. They signed Van Halen almost immediately and let them do their thing. No BS, no rules, no mandates, just let Van Halen be Van Halen. So many other bands get the shaft by record execs, but Eddie was able to write and record his tapes at home then bring them into the studio, and then once he built his own home studio WB just did the final mixing. True freedom.
@@joe6096 I knew that Gene helped them in the beginning, not to the extent of the knowledge you shared, but Eddie and the band were so good that WB let them do their thing their way was not something very common in the music industry from what I heard throughout the years. Thank you for posting this, and if anyone ever deserved the freedom to do things their way it V/H! R.I.P. Eddie, you will be sorely missed! You’re such an inspiration to all of us Guitar players and we would never be playing the way we do now if you hadn’t come along and showed everyone what the guitar is capable of! And music aside, you were just a great person! You will never be forgotten.
Not really true. Warner Brothers didn't need Gene's money to put out any records. And they didn't hear the demos Gene did, they saw them live then cut their own demos, which led to the signing and the first album. I think the band simply thanked Gene from trying to get them signed more than a year before. Congrats to Gene for trying to get them attention, but his efforts didn't work out. Thankfully Ted Templeman did see and sign them.
I'm pretty sure Dr Roth had more than enough money to help bankroll the band....not Gene..
To be honest, this is the best interview I have ever seen Gene Simmons in, you can tell he had cried a bit before he went live, he truly gave a shit about Eddy & his honest and heartfelt responses give you an insight into Eddy and who he was. Good Interview & Such a loss, RIP EVH.
i think this is the first time i've seen Simmons not be a douche in an interview. RIP EVH...will be much missed for generations to come.
Agreed - very honest and humbled - says it all
Agreed, very nice tribute by Gene.
Gene is always himself, no bullshit. It’s real and deeply touched. Only one Eddie Van Halen! Always very happy with his guitar, a simple man.
@Noble Failures
So you wanted him to play boring instrumental music that only a handful of guitar nerds and prog geeks appreciate? Why the hell would he want to do that when he wrote great music that tens of millions of rock fans loved? Also, apparently you never listened to Fair Warning - it had some songs that were pretty far outside the usual VH mold.
Pure, open, and raw. The most sincere interview Gene has ever done.
That's how Gene is.
Normally when I listen to Gene, I’m rolling my eyes, right now, I’m wiping them. Rest In Peace Ed, I love ya.
Yup!
Gene is a Good Human Being.
100% agreed with this comment!
Really well said.
"I didnt discover Superman. He was already there". One of the more humble things Ive heard from Gene in decades. RIP Eddie. True Legend.
@Bif Webster ok Chief
Say what you will.....gene puts on a show alot of the time. But in reality, he is one one the smartest, nicest guys in rock..
Man, I don't I've ever seen Gene express such sadness. R.I.P. Eddie.
he loved van halen he work very close to that band he believe in van halen its a band of gene heart
Except for when his mother died.
@Chest Rockwell who getting paid lord you people are disgusting bunch his closes friend dies and you got to say this
@Mike Williams WTF you talking about? He's dissing Gene, the guy wearing a hat with a bag of money on it.
"Hi!...this is Gene Simmons....from KI$$"
"I didn't discover superman. He was always there."
Now THAT was HUGE coming from someone who is normally so full of himself.
😰
Amazing statement coming from Mr. Ego.
I am 55 and Van Halen was one of my most influential bands growing up. Bands in my opinion will never be at this Iconic level as long as I live. Rest in peace Eddie
"Winners don't even know they're in a race. They just love to run."
Excellent. Good line
Good line
I like that!
Best tribute I’ve heard so far. Gene is such a sweetheart. He loved Eddie, & you can tell it in what he said here. Love this. Still in shock over his death.
God bless Eddie Van Halen. He is a legend who will never die. Not since Hendrix has any guitarist completely re-written the rule book. The first time I even heard Eruption I was in shock. I just could not believe a human being could actually play like that. Forty years later, I still can't play Eruption. I thank Eddie from the bottom of my heart for the music. I am completely heartbroken. Thank you Gene for this heart-felt tribute. I hope he is in heaven now rocking with the greats!
Yup God bless evh
Stevie Ray Vaghun was better than Eddie.
How highly does this speak of Eddie when even Gene has nothing but good things to say about him . It’s really quite sweet to hear
Absolutely!!! It’s nice to hear nothing but respect from gene simmons. Rare
The stool Sample his friendship with Eddie obviously meant a lot to him . Very refreshing to see gene not playing Captain Hook all the time
Legends recognize other Legends!
Weird to here Simmons talk like he's not the most important part of his speech. He's actually a human being. And he's 100% right and legit about Van Halen. He has an important role in this... His pain is real. And I feel empathy for Gene Simmons. That's a new feeling upon this earth I guess. Thank you Gene, from the bottom of my heart.
Yeah, this was the real Gene Simmons, not the public character of Gene Simmons. It was nice to hear him speak well of EVH.
Should check out his homage to Chuck Berry.
I thoughts exactly! R.I.P. Eddie!
And you never will again...
@@davidbakerscuba thats how gene got the hot blonde wife. she saw through all the bluster and found a decent human being haha
Gene Simmons is human too..and is hurting from the loss of his friend EVH you can see it in his face and hear the emotions in his voice?..Just a huge devastating loss for the world of music..REST EASY EVH!!..mucho love n respect 🤘😎💪🥁❤
Gene telling this guy Eddie wasn’t a red carpet guy was almost putting the celebs in their place lol
You hate yourself for worshiping the fame and money that they have
Thing about Eddie is he did everything for fun. He genuinely enjoyed every second of shredding his guitar, and then seeing the joy and fun it brought to the fans made him even happier. That's why he donated 75 of his own guitars to schools for music education. Many of them just wanted money, but he wanted to give kids the opportunity to just have fun with one of his guitars. So he found a program that would take his guitars and distribute them to schools. Right now there are kids in 75 schools around America learning their first E chord on an axe that Eddie Van Halen owned and played live on stage and on records. That gave Eddie more joy than the celebrity and fame.
There's no BS here folks...Gene is truly devastated by Eddie's passing. I am a huge Van Halen and Kiss fan and honestly did not know they were that close.
gene discovered them. and got them setup with there first record deal.
I'm a huge Fan as well named my daughter after a Van halen song . This is very hard Gene is really hurting didn't know he was so close with Eddie. Love the story's he's telling about the band..You can feel the hurt. The rock world lost a rock god. Thanks Eddie for the music I'll never stop listening. ❤🍻
Gene produced their first album...
@Headwhacker Yep. Kiss were instrumental in helping Rush get their start in the U.S. when they toured together. Geddy Lee said they were the hardest working band around at the time.
Your a Fan of both and did not know Gene and Edward were close ? wake up Gene helped out the band getting signed .....Eddie wanted to Join Kiss in the Early 80's .... go back and listen to your Taylor Swift sound tracks ...
Kudos to Gene for striking exactly the right tone with this tribute. I would not have automatically figured he would do this with such humility. Thanks Gene.
The most sincere l have ever heard Gene.
I felt the same
Gene is letting his hat do the talking
Totally agree.😢
He's human. He's read all the hateful comments about him on youtube. He can't have experienced that without being left feeling really shit.
Real human being
Many words of wisdom within this video.
...and a really lame hat.
I like it!
Make It In Music not a single wise word was spoken
That hat rocks! Love it Gene!
Eddie is the reason I started playing. RIP Eddie
We lost an Icon and a legend in his own right.. RIP Eddie Van Halen, you will definitely be missed...
Don’t be sad he’s gone, just be glad he was here
Thank you. You are sooo right. Just can't stop tearing up. He really was Iconic.
Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan,and only a small other group of men have ever rocked this planet the way they did and the music touched us to the soul may you rest in peace Van Halen thank you for all the wonderful years and the music you've given this world
Amen to that 🙏
Well said, he touched all of us in many ways. Every time I hear Cathedral now, I feel like it's the gods calling for his Ascension into the next world...
You're so right to say this!! I look back on my generation and I'm so grateful for Eddie and Van Halen being the music of it!!! It really was a privilege to see them in concert from the beginning!!! 💜🙏
Eddie's out of pain. I've been around and cared for cancer victims. the suffering is done
Yes, I felt the same way when my mother died of cancer, dementia and stroke, no pain anymore, but she was old....But it`s like all the big ones dies to young. So many of them 💔
I wish I didn't hear about the details of his final days. Info leaked about Neil Peart too and I regretted reading about it. It's a horrible tragic thing. Just remember them for how great they were and impacted me on a personal level through their music.
There is a theory that he probably got venereal disease in his throat from pleasuring women with his mouth HPV. Which causes cancer of the throat.
@@Mr.Cedric7607 I'm a doctor. 35 years of experience. I guess you weren't ready, Ceddy.
@@knowmusicman157 Bruce of Iron Maiden got Throat Cancer from that. I heard EVH had trouble giving up smoking though?
Gene really pressing someone talks tons of the person who's he's talking about. Gene Simmons can be several things, many of them not pleasant, but at the end of the day he's a real rocker, a king rock legend, and he praising Eddie like this just can tell you about the respect the whole rock community has for this man. Some true legends unites us all, Ediie was one of them, if you're a rocker and you don't like Van Halen you just have bad taste my friend.
Well said 😘
Completely agree
There are only two people that gene Simmons raves about more than himself prince and now Eddie Van Halen 🙏🏿
Actually he was pissed at Prince because he did drugs.
Prince really?
The thing that got to me was when Gene said get Gen Z kids to listen to Eddie's music because I am 13 and the only thing I listen too is old rock.
Dang, Gene is gonna make me cry! God bless Eddie and his family.
I can’t understand how 101 people dislike this interview . This is a very sincere heartfelt interview by Gene. RIP EVH.😢
Some people just suck bro, plain and simple.
Cause some people are just miserable assholes!!!
101 morons with no appreciation for REAL talent, they are likely fans of inferior garbage
Weird to here Simmons talk like he's not the most important part of his speech. He's actually a human being. And he's 100% right and legit about Van Halen. He has an important role in this... His pain is real. And I feel empathy for Gene Simmons. That's a new feeling upon this earth I guess. Thank you Gene, from the bottom of my heart.
Nirvana fans probably
It’s nice to actually hear Gene talk about someone other than himself.
and he wasn't even trying to sell merchandise
Wake up. The arrogance is a character, is all hype, all pretending. Do not be silly.
This is the really gene Simmons.
Its funny though because hes wearing a hat with a bag of money on it. 💰
@Bif Webster from my humble point of view he always said he preferred a powerful chord than I bunch of notes like an angry bee, but that doesn t mean he underrated legendary lead guitarrists´way of playing.
@Bif Webster gene was talking about all the imitators, not eddie.
before van halen got signed gene actually had alex & eddie van halen playing together with him on some future kiss tracks.
gene wanted ace to play like eddie, but of course that was an impossible task.
Man, Gene's being humble here, but KISS brought the rock concert experience to a whole other level and he was always about fostering talent. He helped so many iconic bands at the beginning of their careers. Good on ya Gene.
Gene being this humble clearly shows how much he truly loved Eddie. Very touching & uncharacteristic of the Gene Simmons we all know & love.
I love when Gene admits that its usually all about him, but with such great respect, he said, nah, this isn't about me, this is about this legend. Great interview, Gene.
I usually disagree with Gene but he's spot on with this. Rip Ed
Best Guitarist Ever :
Eddie Van Halen
Best Drummer Ever :
Neil Peart
RIP Gentleman
niel peart, no way, show me a vid, link to what you are talking about
@@Neeko_Z - I dont know what you're talking about ?? 🤷♂️🤷♂️
You don’t know too much about guitar players. Here is the two biggest
Mike Oldfield
David Gilmore
Sandor Deak
Gilmour
@@zeudliget uh what abt eddie for fuck sakes this man was a living legend n changed the game of guitar playing forever
when a GIANT walked the Earth ... Edward Van Halen
So nice to hear Gene put his ego aside and just talk about his friend
I appreciate the fact that Gene gave answers that were honest, sincere, and carefully measured. The ET dude kept asking questions that Gene believed he was not qualified to answer. Yet the answers he gave were straightforward and appropriate. I can't speak for the KISS Army on the notion of Eddie playing lead for the band but, the decision Gene made was astounding and the respect I have for Gene has grown more than words can describe. #RIPEVH #RockOn
I could feel Gene's sorrow...almost made me cry to hear all the positivity Gene told about him....very sincere words......
Eddie is an innovator like no one else! He took to another lever guitar skills!! Now He is in heaven playing guitar FOREVER!!
Juan Pablo Marin Teaching God to play, I’m sure...
@@macleadg ♥️
Can you imagine him and Prince playing guitar together in heaven?!
Can you imagine him and Prince playing guitar together in heaven?!
@@bl6797 ♥️🤘
Gene is correct, no other guitar player has turned heads since Jimi Hendrix
SRV had special electricity. ...only other one
I think you took it a step further than Jimi Hendrix play the keyboards to bass drums everything
What a wonderful tribute to Eddie Van Halen. I always love to hear about humble, beautiful people. Even with his incredible honed talent he sounds like he was a heck of a guy.
Condolences to his wife, ex-wife and son who all loved him.
RIP.
Gene Simmons is correct when he talks about Eddie Van Halen playing the guitar like there is 3 or 4 guitarists playing at once, his 27th August 1986 solo is amazing, I wish I could have seen him play in person.
I’d have loved to see Van Halen live. I saw just about every other band I wanted to see. Saw Kiss 5-6 times in the 70s. Saw them on their first tour 1974! (and saw their reunion your 2000)
He was brilliant playing live. Saw him in 1984 on the Jump tour. Eddie was a class player..always with that smile . He always smiled! God speed Eddie. 💞🎸
Great SIMMONS Interview on EDDIE VAN HALEN ( R.I.P. Oct, 6th, 2020 )
When gene says ur special ur fuckn special
we lost a monumental guitar player .. my heart is b leeding i was around 10 years old when Jump comes out on Musique plus in Montreal Canada so much memories ... i cant believe we lost him so young ...
What's even sadder is that 20 years ago, news like this would have stopped the world for a few days. Today, it's overshadowed by so much other bullshit, it doesn't even get the time and attention it deserves. It's buried under a hundred other horrible stories, none of which are anywhere near as important. What has this world become. RIP Eddie.
Agreed. Maybe if he was a Disney star?
To be fair Eddies passing was news across mainstream media in the UK who normally ignore anything Rock,that surprised me.
I’ve been around for considerably over 20 years and Eddie’s passing is definitely getting mainstream attention. It’s in news reports everywhere.
@@koshersalaami It isn't about getting mainstream attention or not. My point is that once upon a time it would be the main story for a couple of days at least. Stories like this used to be all you'd hear about. And the only reason it's stuck around more than a day now is because of all of the celeb videos, which people are glomming onto. But the coverage for famous people dying used to be different, before we had all of this other bullshit in the world.
It took several days to really register, with the maelstrom of shit going on......it is such a devastating loss. Prayers to his family..........what a loss
Eddie must have been a very special soul bec I have never seen Gene give a more heartfelt, selfless interview on anyone.
Says everything to me.
Gene knows a good thing when he sees it or hears it..he got them into the studio...and produced them.
And then tore up contract when he knew they were too big for him to keep. He could have robbed them and stayed in their pockets for a while He does have some humanity We love you Gene So cool to see you like this completely out of character showing us who you really are
@Spiritualistic So do most people. When hes on his own, he is caring, funny, intelligent and more honest than most think..that's what people who know him say.
It breaks my heart that Eddie Van Halen has passed away. I feel for his family, his brother, his kid, the Van Halen band, David Lee Roth, his wife, ex-wife, and the whole rock world.
I am 54 years old. If they toured in the 80's through the late 90's, I made an effort to see them, and most of them I did. I even chose to not go to a good friends pre-wedding reception because Motorhead was playing (which I did not know) 4 blocks from the hotel. I have NEVER seen Gene Simmons as somber as in this interview and I believe it is genuine. I have seen VH in it many evolutions (sans Cherone), hell I even tried to sneak out from CT to go to the US festival to see them.
The irony to me after viewing so many of these interviewers (not all) is that a solid majority of interviewers have NEVER seen VH live. It is just another story. Genes words reflect what those of us who have had THAT experience know and feel....
I feel sorry for his brother Alex the most and I'm so glad Eddie and Van Halen has been a part of my musical life since the first album in 1978.
See you in the next dimension brother!😎🚬♐⛎🔥
Classy and very interesting comment by Gene Simmons. Gene and Kiss were the ones that every young (me at that time!) in the end of 70's - 80's knew. I remember buying the first VH record from Columbia record club, what a blast it was when i first listen to it!!! I bought almost all of their records 3 times: Cassette, Vinyl and CD! I still blast the VH music from time to time in my car. The thing i'll remember: A hard worker that twisted around the difficulties (no money, no equipment, etc), came with his own style and sound. RIP EVH.
I'll add: I have the 1995 HDTRacks remastered collection: I hope a competent engineer will remaster it, it sounds flat and blurry. I'm an audiophile who likes high quality sound, i imagine what it would be to listen to VH music with the sound quality it deserves. With a better mix, it would feel much better like "we are there with them".
Gene has humbled more over the years. Years back it was of course “all about me” but I see that waning a bit. Death is the one thing that’s going to unite us all at some point so...it’s good to practice some humble and recognize others before ourselves. I know it makes me feel better when I acknowledge others first. It’s a trait that’s going by the wayside in this faster paced world we live. The faster it moves, the slower I go.
I have two speeds: slow, and slower. Smell the flowers once in a while....
I saw gene change when his wife threatened to leave him on their reality show, and ever since then, he was humbled.
@Bif Webster -
He who exalts shall be humbled ....
And the meek shall inherit the Earth
Geddy Lee
Gene is a Good Human Being - -
- Dusty Hill
- Jack Bruce
- Terry Butler
- Geddy Lee
- Gene Simmons
- Michael Anthony
- Chris Squire
- John Entwistle
- Tommy Shannon
- Paul McCartney
- John Paul Jones
- Leon Wilkerson
- Roger Waters
- Bill Wyman
- Roger Glover
Not Too Shabby 🎸👍
@@elvisparker4691 😂😂😂
Gene Shoulda been first on tjis list! 😘
@Bif Webster -
Well Bif, I guess it was too difficult for you to figure out, so, I'll spell it out for you. That is a list of Good & Great Rock Bassists. I was responding here to a Bass Player...
Watching gene get emotional about Eddie got me crying 😭
RIP G.O.A.T.
EVH
I’ve never seen Gene Simmons so emotional & so humble.
The respect & admiration he’s showing to Eddie Van Halen, is compassionate & relatable to so many EVH fans everywhere.
Touching how Gene Simmons speaks here about Eddie Van Halen really beautiful and deeply heartfelt ! ♥️
This is the best, most humble Gene interview I have ever seen. Usually, he is so up his ass, that is just who he is. But here you see a different side of the man. It reminds me of how he talked about RUSH. Love him or hate him, he has also left his mark on Rock N Roll and to hear him talk about EVH this way gives me a new respect for him. We will miss you Eddie, you were the maestro for an entire generation of rockers... I agree with Gene, take a kid, you son or daughter, a nephew, the kid down the street, or a student from your class and play them Eddie Van Halen. Long Live Rock. RIP Maestro !
For Gene Simmons that was a humble tribute to Eddie. Thanks for that!
I loved Gene's eulogy of Eddie but also his input on millennials and what type of music the youth today are missing out on. Luckily I grew up on Van Halen. The best. 💙💥🎸💞
Wow. Death (and talent) even humbles Gene. Great stuff. R.I.P. Eddie
I wasn't sure when I clicked play if I was going to shut the video off in a quick fashion, but I am glad that I watched it. Gene did a classy, warm tribute interview about Eddie here. I am glad I watched this. I wasn't sure what direction Gene was going to go with this, but he kept his comments on topic, humble and made it completely about Eddie. Bless ya, Gene. And Rest In Peace, Eddie. You're gone too soon.
Eddie passing did the impossible..... Made gene simmons humble
Gene's most humble interview of all time. It was nice to see him acknowledge that he was blessed to be able to simply see Eddie perform. The fact that he even says that "it's not even fair to say he was a friend", showed humility. That was nice.
Respect to you Mr Simmons for your words. Eddie is missed already. R.I.P
"Family is everything," says Gene. Spot on. I'm blessed to play in a cover band with my son on drums. My other son comes to our gigs and sits in on a few songs. Priceless.
That was a truly moving and heartfelt tribute to Eddie the human being from Gene. 😢
Wow, Gene Simmons being humble. It speaks of how great Eddie wasthat he's not stealing his thunder. Rock on, Eddie, Rock on.
Gene talking humility, wow ! now I've heard it all.
The only other time I saw Gene Simmons get emotional like this was during an interview a year or so after the death of Eric Carr. He was describing a prank Eric pulled on him and he started choking up almost to the point of tears.
In FAMILY JEWELS, Gene was openly crying like a baby when he visited his biological father's grave in Israel. That was actually a really touching episode, because he never forgave his father for leaving his mother and him to fend for themselves. And in his tears he forgave his father.
My upmost respect to Gene Simmons is a man I respect he’s a very intelligent man , evident of that as a judge on American idol but his eulogy to Eddie Van Halen is Gene at his best , talking about this icon is incredibly touching. RIP Eddie you will always be missed. Always and forever, thank you Mr Simmons for such a great tribute , well done, you have my complete respect . Love you Eddie rest with the angels my love , out of pain , you live on, as the legend that you are……..
never in my life have i heard gene talk like this, such a humble and heartbreaking interview.
Eddie never realised the enormous impact he had on the music and rock scene, so humble, clever and talented, he will be missed so much more than he will ever know, at least we have the music and the videos and the memories! RIP Legend Eddie!!
we thought hendrix came from another planet, then along came eddie, jaw dropping guitar playing and he always looked like he was having a blast and it was so easy. rip
Jimi and Eddie tied for the 2 best guitarists ever.
Gene Simmons is a Class Act - my condolences to him and RIP to EDDIE 🙏
Im a KISS fan but Gene is everything but a class act🤣
Gene Simmons getting emotional about his good friend Eddie. Very touching listening to his remembrances of Eddie. RIP Rock Star. Eddie Van Halen the greatest innovator and guitarist ever.
If you listen carefully, Gene quickly denied that they were close friends which is admirable by not taking credit for something that isn't true. He just spoke of the early years and then how much he admired and respected Eddie.
RIP Eddie. Glad Gene was humble.
You bring a conversation like that out a Gene Simmons So many people saying they've never heard him talk like that Not that it's pad But you realize how special Eddie was to drag down on the gene that real Nas Good for you Good for you Jane Simmons
What an incredible memory from Gene Simmons about the transformational talent that EVH was and is. Had no idea he helped keep the band together for a few more years. Gave us the gift of 1984, and the anthem album of my younger days. God bless you Eddie and Gene.
Class act Gene. I got choked up a few times during this interview. I would not be playing guitar for a living if it wasn't for Eddie. But Kiss was the first inspiration for sure. Class act Gene thank you for that.
I did too! ( choked up )
Wow, what an interview! Gene is the real deal and was so very humble in this video. You could 100% feel his emotions and that he truly meant what he said. RIP Eddie. Thank you for being a part of my life. Your music was amazing and I'm grateful for the memories. Gene. Good shit brother. Much respect to you, your band (Kiss) and to the Van Halen family, thank you and I'm really sorry for your loss. Thank you!!!
I'm glad this interviewer knows a little bit about someone of Eddie's stature. Michael Strahan didn't seem to know who he was, they should've got someone else doing a piece on Eddie on GMA.
Great point!!
That's terrible Strahan didn't know. In his lifetime he had to hear VH hits somewhere. A band that is known worldwide. If your job is being in front of a camera you should do your homework! He had to practice before game day. Give me his job. Quit being lazy Michael& disrespectful. Give me a break don't know Van Halen. He's been living in the Outback or Iceland
@@chaz951 They love Van Halen in Iceland and in the Outback & you're right! Why does he even have that job if he's too lazy to show respect where respect is due! I can live without pro-sports. I cannot live without music!!
It's Kevin Frazier. He used to be at ESPN. Nice to see someone step outside of the sporting world who actually knows something besides sports.
@@chaz951 to be fair to Strahan, I wouldn't expect Sean Hannity of Fox to know who legendary funk guitarist Nile Rogers is. They are both from different sub cultures.. it's like getting Hannity to do a piece on Tupac...but GMA should've brought in someone who knew a bit more about Eddie Van Halen to do a special report because this man was one of the greatest pillars of 80s Rock music.
That shot of Eddie with the crowd going nuts behind him @ 4:37 says it all.
Concert name?
Thank you Gene. Eddie is so loved and respected.
Very humble review by Gene Simmons. Thank you for helping Van Halen get started. Kiss was my first real concert and saw them 3 times. I saw Van Halen 7 times.
i'm gen z and it's sad to see all these young people listening to these "artists" using an excessive amount of autotune, talking in their songs, writing the same song everytime making up random words, only singing about drugs, murder, sex, and guns and using a computer preset drum beat and they think it's good music. I wish I was born in the 60s so I could play music in the 80s with all the greats. It's really sad to see music go down such a talentless path from what it used to be where it was full of creativity. Long live rock n' roll and I hope people my age realize the music they listen to is so shit compared to other genres that actually take talent.
well said young blood.
I love Gene I don't care what critics say ,he says what his heart feels, and I really appreciate what he said at Chuck berry funeral..really beautiful and real.
I’m 16 and Van Halen is my hero, and I’m proud to say I will be trying to continue his legacy✊✊. Rest in power evh
I've just made rather cool tribute to Eddie!
Gene is such a nice guy, he has such a good heart. 🎶
Gene can really be a down to earth person when he wants to. I like the way he should respect and talked good about Eddie.. Eddie Van Halen was truly one of the best guitar players in the world he will be missed but his memory will live on forever. God took him from us but he will never take his music and the memories
Throat cancer killed my brother a few years ago. It sucks
Damn, never heard Gene be that emotional, it's a straight gut punch to him because he was there from the beginning, if not for Gene VH might have taken another year or two to be picked up. Timing is everything & Gene helped in that regard, many of us respect his business sense as much as his musicianship. Ed flipped the script on modern day guitar playing, much like Stevie Ray, they made you want to throw your guitar under the bed & give up. lol Ed will always be a shining star in a dark sky. I guess Ed, Randy Rhodes & Stevie Ray are jamming tonight.
Gene Simmons, Thank you from the heart.
I remember how Gene was always a big VH fan. People have to realize that Van Halen was rising while Kiss was on their way down. Through that time I always recall Gene giving nothing but monstrous accolades to Eddie and the rest of the band. That was a really nice tribute Gene gave there.
Despite being the greatest of all time Eddie was humble and simple because he came from a humble and simple childhood that shaped him early in life. The world lost a wonderful talent and person.
He made his mark but he was not close to being the greatest of all time
@@knowmusicman157 Not even close? Wow. Before Eddie all the rock guitarists were so sloppy and imprecise. When I hear Jimmy Page try to play fast I just cringe. And no one had done what he did before. He was a revolutionary and groundbreaking guitarist. In 1978 I can't even imagine what that must have sounded like. Chris Impelliteri, who is an amazing guitarist in his own right, said Eddie was from another world. With Randy Rhoads, who became prominent a few years later, Chris said he was awesome but he knew those techniques and sounds from also training in classical guitar. With Eddie ut was just like where tf did this guy come from. And all guitarists since him are either directly or indirectly influenced by him. Without Ed, the virtuouso guitarists of the 80s such as Paul Gilbert then guys like Marty Friedman and Jason Becker and so on wouldn't exist. Clean, precise playing, unheard of two handed tapping at the time that every guitarist since has made part of his arsenal, his phrasing and songwriting make him a guitar god of all time. The fact that you said not close made you lose all credibility. And I know some jaw dropping players who would also disagree with you adamantly.
Denis Lanza No one could play fast? Try Alvin Lee. Try Richie Blackmore. Do you need more examples?
Denis Lanza You’re not old enough to know. Tommy Bolin is another example
What a sad day it was. He was an icon and nobody will ever be like him...it's a dam shame...saw them 3 times and Eddie stole the show with his solo...you had to be there...he will be truly missed...RIP Eddie we will miss you..
It's hard to believe that Eddie is gone. I can still remember the first time hearing the first Van Hellen album. and I said to my brother. this is the next guitar hero.
I would like Gene Simmons more if he was like in this interview more of the time instead of his usual self. It was nice to see him just be a human being instead of the shallow business man.
It's about Eddie but Gene Simmons is a totaly honest guy to me. and thats the best he could say about Eddie. He passed away but he's not gone and never will, as many of his kind.